Picture Car Glossary
lock-up car
What is a lock-up car?
Updated June 2026 · Revolution Picture Cars
Also called locked-off car, or static car.
A lock-up car is a parked background vehicle placed and secured in a specific position on set typically with wheel chocks, locked steering, or a prop chain to ensure it remains exactly in place for continuity across multiple shooting days.
Lock-up cars are particularly important in street scenes where background vehicles must not be moved by passersby, city vehicles, or overnight disturbances between production days. Wranglers verify lock-up car positions each morning against continuity photos before the first shot of the day.
Example
Background cars in a street scene are chocked, steering locked, and left in position across multiple setups so the frame matches between takes. A car that rolls an inch between takes is a continuity problem.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Placed by wranglers per the staging layout and left static for the duration of the scene.
Common mistake
Leaving a background car unchocked across multiple setups. A vehicle that rolls an inch between takes is a continuity error that shows up in the edit, not on the day.
Related questions
- How is a lock-up car secured?
- Wheel chocks, locked or centred steering, the handbrake set, and a marked position on the ground so it returns to the same spot if it has to be moved.
- Why does it matter if a parked car moves?
- Because the frame has to match between takes. A car that shifts position breaks continuity in a way that is expensive to fix later.
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